Political Participation

ip journal

On the limits and context of Germany's power in the Union

Germany is widely perceived to be calling the shots in Europe's sovereign debt crisis management, and maybe in the EU in general. But a state's influence in the union is complex and also contextual. Clearly, though, state power seems to have regained prominence in the European debate. How much power have member states retained, or perhaps even won, in the process of integration – and what does power in the Union look like? Five theses on power in today’s European Union.

ip journal

Suggestions for a common EU strategy for Internet security

Before decisions on the regulation of the Internet and prevailing universal norms are made on a global level, Europeans must develop a common Internet strategy. Such an EU strategy, however, cannot pit security against freedom or the interests of the state against individual liberties and fundamental rights.

Artikel

The quick expansion of EU integration—which has been brought about by the financial crisis—threatens to lead to a dead end. The eurozone has segregated itself from the Union’s overall development with ever more binding agreements. A democratic vacuum looms over the continent, and France and Great Britain are mostly to blame.

Encouraged by a successful youth uprising in Tunisia, Egypt’s youth organized online for a “day of anger” using the virtual social network Facebook, without any outside political or religious influence. This quickly developed into the mass “public revolution” everyone has been watching. While Tunisia was the catalyst, the protests are a response to Egypt’s deteriorating domestic conditions and mounting instability that has only gotten worse in the past few years.

When demonstrations swept Andijan, Uzbek President Karimov did not follow Kyrgyz President Akayev’s example and abdicate, but chose instead to suppress the demonstrators. Hundreds were probably killed by his security services. Yet it’s not quite as black-and-white as most news accounts suggested. Real insurgents were involved, using civilians as human shields.

Chinese nationalism is far more complex than emotional anti-Japanese street demonstrations might suggest. It has been an instrument for rallying support during the rapid, turbulent transformation of a Communist to a post-Communist society. But the government has striven to keep passions under control and to keep foreign policy prudential. The question of whether it is succeeding or not remains open.